Short Summary

Three clerics from the Greek Catholic Church arrived in Jerusalem on Wednesday (21 August) to investigate charges against Archbishop Hilarion Capucci.

Description

Three clerics from the Greek Catholic Church arrived in Jerusalem on Wednesday (21 August) to investigate charges against Archbishop Hilarion Capucci.

The Archbishop, who is head of the Greek Catholic Church in Jerusalem, parts of Israel and the occupied West Bank, had been arrested on charges of smuggling arms to Palestinian guerrillas. On Sunday (18 August), the Archbishop was remanded in custom for 15 days, pending the completion of police inquiries.

The envoys were led by Monsignor Boulos Ashkar, from Latakia, Syria. Monsignor Ashkar, on Thursday morning, met officials of the ministry of Religious Affairs in Jerusalem. It was also suggested that the Monsignor might be appointed to temporarily replace Archbishop Capucci.

The Greek Catholic community in the area numbers about 4500.

SYNOPSIS: The Ministry of Religious ???rars building in Jerusalem.... the scene on Thursday of top level discussion concerning the fate of the local Greek Catholic Archbishop.

Monsignor Boulos Ashkar, from Latakia, Syria, one of three special church envoys who arrived in Jerusalem on Wednesday, was at the Ministry for discussion with the head of the Christian Department, Dr. Kolbi. The three envoys were sent to Jerusalem to investigate charges against fifty-two-year-old Archbishop Hilarion Capucci, who was arrested for allegedly smuggling arms to Palestinian guerrillas.

The Archbishop, who is head of a four thousand five hundred-strong Greek Catholic community in Jerusalem, part of Israel and the occupied territories, on Sunday was remanded in custody for fifteen days, pending the outcome of inquiries by Israeli police.

Archbishop Capucci, the Israeli authorities said, made frequent trips to Lebanon and Jordan, without undergoing border checks. There were reports that Monsignor Ashkar might be appointed temporarily to replace the Archbishop. The Greek Catholic Church has appointed one of its own legal advisers to handle the case.